The 28-year-old watched the Bluebirds beat Accrington Stanley 3-1 in Saturday's friendly in Lancashire and is understood to have spoken to boss Dave Jones after the game.

Purse, who is also wanted by Southampton, could find his first-team opportunities limited next season, having dropped down the Baggies' pecking order in recent months.

Manager Bryan Robson has also made it clear that he wants to bring in another centre-back and has had Polish international Jaroslaw Bieniuk on trial for the last few days.

Indications are the Amica Wronki defender could be joining Albion on their pre-season tour of Portugal.

Purse has said in recent weeks that he wants to remain at Albion and fight for his place but Bieniuk's arrival, should he sign, could signal the end of his Hawthorns career.

He will also be aware that the club's three other central defenders - Neil Clement, Darren Moore and Thomas Gaardsoe - have all signed new deals in recent months, indicating they are part of Robson's future plans.

Purse, who has played 24 games for the Baggies, would command a fee of around #500,000.

He was arguably Albion's best defensive performer during the opening weeks of last season but was axed following a run of poor form just after the New Year and never regained his place as the club's push for survival gathered pace.

Meanwhile, Paul Robinson believes first-team places are still up for grabs as Albion prepare for Wednesday's clash against Sevilla.

The left-back admitted they had let the fans and manager down in Friday's 3-0 defeat at Crewe.

"We were shocking - it felt like a league game because we felt so down," said Robinson. "We need to be more professional about it.

"We have a good squad, we are training hard and getting fitter.

"Expectations will be high for us now after what we did last season. We need to build on that and move up the table not down.

"We have to start performing to prove we are good enough to wear the shirt in the first game of the season.

"Benfica and Sevilla will be good tests for us. As long as we stay fit and come away with no injuries the season should look good for us."